Camp Erin San Diego Wraps Up Fourth Successful Year
San Diego, California– This past June, The Center for Grief Care and Education at San Diego Hospice [1] wrapped up its fourth successful year of Camp Erin San Diego [2], a weekend camp for children ages 6-17 who have been impacted by the loss of a loved one. Camp Erin San Diego is part of the largest national network of bereavement camps in the country establishedby The Moyer Foundation, non-profit organization founded by World Series champion and MLB All-Star Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen.
Approximately 120 campers attended 2011 Camp Erin San Diego along with 85 camp staff, made up of volunteers that included teenagers, a sprightly 74-year old and San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine staff from five departments.
“The success of Camp Erin San Diego is truly a group effort,” said Noreen Carrington, Executive Director of The Center for Grief Care and Education. “Donations by community members, support from the Moyer Foundation and time and energy from volunteers and staff help create a place where children can share, connect and adapt to their loss.”
Though it lasts just a weekend, Camp Erin San Diego’s impact can resonate for a lifetime. For example, Sean, a former camper who now volunteers as a “Cabin Big Buddy,” asserts, “Camp Erin taught me to confront the death and to look at it in another light, rather than escaping it. Instead of just mourning the death, I learned to celebrate the life.”
Plans for the 2012 Camp Erin San Diego are already underway. For sponsorship opportunities, to fund a camper or to make a charitable donation, please contact Tylie Daniels, Director of Special Programs, at tdaniels@sdhospice.org or call (619) 278-6509. Information on volunteering or registering a camper is available at sdhospice.org/camperin [3].
About San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine is one of the largest community-owned, not-for-profit hospices in the country, bringing compassionate, expert medical care to more than 1,200 seriously ill adults and children each day throughout San Diego and North County. In addition, The Center for Grief Care and Education assists more than 12,000 individuals, experiencing grief and loss, with support, counseling and guidance each year. For more information, visit www.sdhospice.org [4] or call toll-free 866-688-1600.
About The Moyer Foundation
Headquartered in Seattle, WA, this public, 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization was founded in 2000 by MLB, World Series-winning All-Star pitcher Jamie [5]Moyer [5] and his wife, Karen [5]. The Moyer Foundation supports programs that directly serve critical needs of children in severe distress. Since its inception, The Moyer Foundation has raised over $20 million to help support more than 225 different programs that help children in distress in a variety of ways. More information available: www.moyerfoundation.org [6].